Cover lock for cans



1. L. MARO-HL. 2,382,083

CQVER-LOCK FOR CANS Filed NOV. 18, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Lillim L. Maruhl ug, 4, 1945. L. l... MAROHL 2,382,083

' COVER-LOCK for: CANS Filed Nov. 18,1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I -l'q vei\ tor Lillian L. Marphl' a j I ftortflg Patented Aug. 14, 1945 UNITED ,STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,382,083 COVER LOCK FOR CANS Lillian L. Marohl, St. Paul, Minn.

Application November 18, 1943, Serial No. 510,741

1 Claim.

My invention relates to improvements in coverlocks'ior cans, an object of the invention being to provide a simple, durable and inexpensive device readily adapted to be applied to a'can and capable of being easily operated tolock the cover on the can and to unlock said cover.

The instant improvement is adapted particularly, though not exclusively for application to garbage cans of the domestic type, which are in present use in large numbers and which are of familiar cylindrical form havin a cover telescoped thereover and removable therefrom to give access thereto.

In the ordinary use of garbage cans of this common type, they are frequently knocked over or otherwise upset with the result that the covers of the cans often come off and the garbage from the uncovered cans is scattered about, thus creating unsightly and insanitary conditions.

A main purpose of my invention is to supply a cover-lock that any novice may easily apply to I any ordinary'garbage can of large or small size and which may be easily operated by anyone to free the cover for removal from the can and to lock the cover in place thereon.

Other objects of the invention reside in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter illustrated and/or described.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view in side elevation illustrating a portion of a garbage can and a portion of a cover-lock therefor constructed in accordance with my present inventionj Fig. 2 is a detail plan view illustrating that portion of the coverlock shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional view in detail taken as on the line 3-3 of Fig. ,2 and enlarged in scale; Fig. 4 is a sectional view in detail taken as on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 and enlarged in scale; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view detailing an upper portion of a garbage can and a portion of a cover-lock of the instant character applied thereto, said cover-lock being shown as clamped upon the can in cover engaging position; Fig. 6

' is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the cover-lock unclamped and out of its cover engaging position; Figs. 7 and 8 are fragmentary perspective views illustrating the companion ends of the two straps comprising the can-encircling hoop of my invention, said views showing the complemental fastening means on said straps for adjustably connecting the same together initially to fit the hoop to a particular can; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view of the same strap as that shown.

in Fig. 8, but illustrating the end portion of said strap opposite the end portion thereof portrayed in said Fig. 8, and Fig. 10 is a perspective view in detail showing the guide which is applied to the relatively sliding lapping ends of the hoop straps to stiffen the hoop axially thereof.

Reference being had to the drawings, wherein similar parts are designated by similar reference characters, it will be seen that the can, fragmentarily shown, is a domestic garbage can of familiar type. The cylindrical body IU of the can I! proper is fitted at its sides with handles l2 and is formed at its mouth with an outwardly projecting rolled bead l3. A cover l4 for said can includes a top l5 to which a handle I6 is centrally attached, said top l5 having a skirt formed at its lower edge with an outwardly projecting rolled bead l8. Said skirt ll of said cover I 4 telescopes over the upper portion of the can, fitting about the bead l3'and leaving an annular space I9 between the lower portion of said-skirt and the body H! of the can.

The instant cover-lock, devised for application to the conventional garbage can, comprises a contractible-expansible hoop A in the form of a split band-like ring havin circumferentially spaced cover engaging hooks B thereon. Included in the hoop A are two metallic straps 20, 2|, joined endwise in lapping relation and in circular form. At the one junction between the straps 20, 2|, the end 20a of strap 2|! and the end 2 la of strap 2|, are adjustably connected together initially to fit the hoop to a particular can. At the other junction between the straps 20, 2|, the end 20b of strap 20 and the end 2|bof strap 2| slide longitudinally relative to each other.

In supplying the connection between the straps 20, 2| for initially adjusting the hoop A to a can, the overlapping end 2|a of strap 2| is formed with a plurality of slots 22 extending transversely thereof and equally spaced apart lengthwise of said strap 2|. The underlying end 20a of the strap 20 is formed with two tongues 23, 24, the tongue 23 being located at the extremity of the strap 20 and turned outwardly at right angles thereto. The second tongue 24 is struck from the strap 20 at a locality spaced from the tongue 23 and is also turned outwardly at right angles to said strap. The relative spacing of the tongue 23, 24 is such that one thereof will register with one of the slots 22 in strap 2| when. the other tongue is in register with another of said slots 22 in said strap 2|. With said tongues 23, 24 registered with selected slots 22 in the strap 2|, they are inserted in said slots and bent back upon the strap 2| in opposite directions. The selection of slots 22 into which the tongues 23, 24 are inserted is made to adapt the hoop A circumferentially to accord with the circumference of the can to which the hoop is to be fitted. The spaced tongues 23, 24 are of approximately the same width as the length of the slots 22, so that the tongue and slot connection between the ends 20a, 2l'a of the straps 20, 2| will preserve the longitudinal relation of said straps and with a tie 29 unitarily connecting thetwo spaced guides 25. Said clip C is spot welded or otherwise suitably secured to the innerssi-de..ofzthelunderlying strap 20 with the flanges 21 of;said-,.clip

embracing the opposite edges of the "lapping .straps 20,,-2I sandtheqlips 228 overreaehingithe 1 outer marginal portions -.,,ofthe -;ove ying.;strap xThelappi-ng ends of the straps .20, 2 l gale-Q011- .nected'.togethera by'means ofa clasp:.D working overeoenterto :contract and expand-the ihOQPw-A. This clasp D includes 1a lever r30 pivoted to 1 or fulcmmed onthe-end 2 Llrot strap. 2'Ieand-Jfurther .includes a link .3 l pivoted: to the Zend; blot-strap .20tand pivoted: also: to the sleveraitll. Said lever .30, struck ,from sheetmetah is channel-shaped in; transverse cross section, having gears :32 projecting from its sides -,a.t! its "pivoted --end. This leveri30straddlesa mounting -lug.33 which is .also struck-from; sheet ,metalin channel-shaped formation, the samebeing SDOta-WGldGd. or otherwise suitably-secured to the outer face of theoverlying .endtZIaof strapil. ,A pintleeiit received in apertures .,35 in sSaid mounting .lug ,33 1 extends through the ears 32 of. the lever, 3mandpivotally secures saidlever'thereto. .The link-,3! :consists of asinglepieceof wire..-bent ,int U -shaped formation toprovide. two parallel arms35 extending from apivot-reach36 connecting the one arm to the other ,andfnrther. .bent to provide trunni-ons .31. atthe ends. ofsaidarms- 35, opposite saidpivotreach 36. ,Apertures in v thesidesof the.\lever;.30 pivotally receive the .pivot-reach 36 of. the link 3 I while .thetrun-nions 3'Lof said linkare engaged ,with .a. connecting.lugsii8iapplied to..theendlflb of the strap 20. This connecting lug 38 isstruck from sheet metal "and consists of .ananchorin plate '39 fanned with ,eaIsAflapertuIted to receive 7 said. trunnions 31 of the-link} l,..saidianchoring .platei39i being-spot Welded, or otherwise suitably secured .to. theouter. face poi said strap 20.

. In closing. the i'clasprD th lever 30 .is swung toward .the ,endj'2 l b .of the strap} i, into. position againstsa-id strap ;(Fig.; 2) .with.,thei result that the ends2flb, 2 Ib of,.the straps.20,..2 lnare relatively shifted in .oppositefldirections contracting the hoopv A. 1 During this hooprcontracting. operation of the:clasp1D,vthe arms35 ,ofmthelink' 3I. .swing inwardly past the axisof the intleii ljfulcruming said,1ever.30,-.thus locking the claspjDclose'd. The reversal of .said lever.30,opens the claspiD' and relatively shifts .the eridsZObfZlb; of the straps-20,11 oppositely, to expand the hoop. As

The cover engaginghooks B are preferably three in number, -the same-being vspaced one hundred and twenty -degreesapart on' the hoop- A, two of said 'hooks'loeingsecuredtot-he longer strap 2l 'andone'thereof lbeing securedtotheshorter :strap 20. -Said*h0oks B aresimilarly f ormed'- from: stiff ban'd-i-ron; each having a butt "4| awhichis spot welded -onotherwise suitably secured toits respectivestrap in th hoop A. iExtending horizontally outwardifrom theLbutt H ;of*-seachrhook;B is ashank portion 42: and-"bent from this shank is the head or .bight 43 of the hook which opens inwardly and which is shaped to embrace the bead IS on the cover-skirt l1 and .overre'ach thesame. V i

'Whennthe clasp Dis open and the hoop A expanded, said hoop will rest upon the'handles I2 .of the can (Fig. 6). To lock the cover M on said can, the expanded hoop A is slid upwardly .'.on;theocan until the hook-shanks 42, which pro- 10 vide upwardly limiting guide-stops bridging the annular space l9 between the cover-skirt l1. and =can-1body; t0, engagethe lower edge of said coverskirt [1. Thereupon the clasp D is closed to contract the hoop A and clamp it upon the can, such contractionofsaid hoopnat. the ,same.,tiine-serviingqto-shift-the hooksB nad'i al lyinwardrand. lbl'i i g them into .locking ,position ..(Fig 5) with .the

heads-13 thereof overreachi-ng.theshouldenform- ,ing-bead l.8.;on.. said ,.cover.-.skirt .I'L' Ihus,..the cover 44 is :securely locke'd in .place .upon the can. safely "to retain "the contents thereof even though the .can bekno-ckedover or otherwise upset. .As will nowbe .understoodtheicover. I4 is readily ,freed, merely by .opening the ,clasplD, the hoopA, in such vcase, being expandedan'd the hooks 'Bbeing. shifted, radially. outwardinto positions disengaged from the skirt-head'jlll. f

it is, vofcourse,desirable rigidly to maintain the coplanar relationshipof the hooksB'so that when one or'more disaidhooks is in' an'elevated pQs'itiontengageble with the'skirt-bead '18, the otherihook .or hooks will, likewise beso positioned. This purpose is accomplished through the axial stiffening of the; hoopjAflbymaintaining the .1011- ituidinal relation of the lap-ping ends ,of the straps'2,0,'j2l,,.as,above pointed out.

From the foregoing,'it will'loerea'dily= appreciated that the instant jdevice is'..not only simple and durablejbut relatively'inexpensive; thatlit 40 can be easily applied andiadjuste'd toany ordinary garbage can by a novice, without tools, and that the device can'loe readily operatedby anyone.

Changes in the specific;form of my invention, 4 as herein "described, maybe ma'de Within the scope ,of what is claimed without departing from the spirit'of my invention. .Having described my. invention; what I claim as new and-desire to. protect-by LettersPatentis:

A cover-elock-for acylindricalcan provided with a cover having a skirtformedwith an outwardly rojecting'bead about ,its lower edge and adapted to; teles-cope over th upper portion of the can, said coverelock comprising-a can-encircling contractible-expansiblehoop adapted when expanded'tobeaxially"guidedbyand-along'the can into power locking relation, "cover engaging members mounted ,on said homo, and means for contracting'thehooptoggrip= the samev aboutithe can and to shift the mover engaging members gradially inward-intqcoverlocking-relationand for expand-' ing the hoop to -shift-the cover engaging members-radially "outward from their ,cover locking disposition, each of said cover engaging; members as comprising a shank-extendingradiallyoutward from the hoop and 'ahook extending upwardly and l inwardly fromthe'shank, sai'd [shanks proupwardly iimiting guideestops for said hoop 'engageablewith-the' lower edge of said head, said-hooks providing catches engageable overt-he upper-edge-of said loea'd upon theengagement 'of i said shanks with thelower-edgeofisaid bead. 'ZLILLIANL. MARQHL; 

